USDA expands organic exemption from marketing orders

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expanding number of growers and shippers who can claim exemptions to assessments for commodity programs and marketing orders based on organic certification.

Previously only those entities that exclusively produced and handled 100% organic certified products could claim the exemption from the assessments. The USDA issued the new rule Dec. 30 with plans for it to be published in the Federal Register on Dec. 31, according to a news release. It goes into effect Feb. 29.